Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CATTLE SCRATCH AND OILER
The present invention relates to cattle scratching and oiling apparatus.
A cattle oiler is used to oil the coats of animals with pesticide carrying oi1 in
order to kill and repel insect pests. It is known that cattle bothered by insects are likely to
scratch and rub irritated parts of their bodies on available surfaces, including fence posts,
trees and so on. For this reason, it has been proposed to provide animals such as cattle
with scratching devices that will dispense oil onto their coats.
The present invention is concemed with a novel device of ~is sort.
According to the present invention there is provided a canle scratching and
oi1ing apparatus, comprising:
a brush having a cylindrical array of bristles thereon;
mounting means for mounting the brush as a substantially horizontal
cantilever, the mounting means including resilient means allowing limited horizontal and
vertical deflection of the brush;
oil supply means including a source of oil, oil discharge means in the
brush and oil delivery means for delivering oil from the source of oil to the oil discharge
means.
It has been found that cattle are drawn to the horizontat, cylindrical brush
arrangement. They wiU use it for scratching muzzle, cheeks, back and even tail stump.
The bristles may be stiff enough to provide the desired scratching relief from pests. At the
same time, oil is delivered to the animals coat by the brush to eliminate pests.The apparatus is preferably associated with a second brush that is part
cylindrical and oricnted verticaUy. Unlike the cantilevered brush that has a stiff, resilient
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mounting, the vertica1 brush is preferably stationary and positioned at one and of the
cylindrical brush. This provides a brush for the animals to scratch their flanks below the ~ `
level of the horizontal brush.
An embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example in the
following. It is to be undastood that otha embodiments are possible within the scope of
the invention.
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment
of the invention:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the invention; ;
Figure 2 is a detailed view, part1y in section showing a dispensing valve;
and
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the resilient mounting of the horizontal
brush.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, and especial1y to Figure 1, there is
illustrated a cattle sctatch and oiler 10 having a cantilevered, horizontal, cylindrical brush
12 supplied with pesticide and oil from a container 14. Below the horizontal bNsh and
spaced to one side of it is a ver~ica1, part cylindrica1 brush 16. These components are all
mounted on a standard 18.
The standard 18 of the apparatus inc1udes a square outer tube 20. A
similarly shaped sleeve 22 slides on the outer tube and carries the vertically oriented brush
16. The sleeve 22 and brush 16 are mounted on the standard by a bolt 24 extending
through the sleeve and through a hob in the standard. To provide for adjustment of the
brush on the standard, plura1 holes 26 are formed in the standard to accommodate the bolt
24.
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The sleeve 22 also carries a clamp 28. This is composed of two concave
metal plates, vertically oriented and held togetha with bolts 29 to mount the apparatus on a
post.
Near the top of the outer tube 20 is a mounting assembly 30 for the upper,
horizontal brush. This includes a resilient knuckle 32, the configuration of which is most
clearly illustrated in Figure 3. As shown in that drawing, the knuck1e includes an upper
plate 34 and a lower plate 36 that project from the tube 20 and are secured to opposite ends
of a vatically oriented inner square tube 38. Surrounding the tube 38 is a vertically
oriented outer square tube 40. The sides of the two tubes are oriented 45 to one another,
1eaving triangular open areas 41 in the corners of the outer tube 40. Seated within these
triangular areas are solid rubber cylinders 42.
A second section of the knuckle has a similar configuration but is rotated
90. In this second section, two side plates 44 and 46 are fastened to opposite ends of a
horizontal inner square tube 48 positioned centrally in a horizontal outer square tube 50.
The outer tube 50 is fastened to the outer tube 40 to form a single unit. Solid rubber
cylinders 52 are seated in the corners of the outer tube.
The innermost section of the knuckle, bounded by the upper and lower
plates 34 and 36, provida limited horizontal, rai1ient movement. As the outer tube 40
rotata about the inner tube 38, the four rubber cylinders 42 are comprased. Similarly,
with the outer section bounded by the side plata 44 and 46, limited vertical movement is
provided as the inner tube 38 rotata within the outer tube 50. This provida limited
resiliency to the mounting of the brush 12 while preventing excessive overall movement.
A bracket 53 is mounted on the outer ends of the two side plates 44 and 46
and carries a tubular arm S4 that extends into the brush 12. The brush 12 includes a
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cylindrical brush core 56 and a series of long, stiff bristles 58 arranged in a cylindrical
array over the surface of the cylindrical core. The core also carries a valve 60 (Figure 2)
for dispensing the oil and pesticide. The valve is supplied with the liquid through a tube 62
leading along the brush core and arm 54, and up the standard to the supply container 14.
The standard 18 has an upper extension in the form of an inner tube 64
fitting telescopically into the outer tube. The inner tube is locked in place using a bolt 66
threaded into the outer tube.
A platform 68is mounted on the outer tube and is supported in place by an
angle brace 70. This supports the container 72 for the oil to be dispensed by the horizontal
brush. A strap 74 fastens the container to the upper end of the standard tube 64.
As illustrated most particularly in Figure 2, the valve 60 has a valve body
76 threaded into the core 56 of the brush 12. The valve is spring loaded and normally
closed. A valve actuator 78 extends from the valve body and is similar in length to the
bristles 58 so that when an animal scratches against the brush, the actuator will be
deflected, thus releasing oil from the valve into the brush and onto the animals hide.
The scratch and oiler of this invention has been found to be exceptionally
effective. Cattle find it particularly attractive as a scratching device.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been described in the
foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible within the scope of
the invention, which is to be ascertained solely by the reference to the appended claims.
